La Solitaire du Figaro - NEGOCIATING THE RIDGE
August 20, 2003

It is there and threatening to cast dead calm conditions right in the path of La Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro fleet. The skippers are progressing along with the ridge and are keeping their fingers crossed that they will manage to keep clear of the calm. The time has come for the skippers to get their strategy together in the Irish Sea, as the fleet approaches the Scilly Isles, to be left to starboard 65 miles ahead. A tricky decision for the soloists to make, as to whether to put some south or north into their route with each gybe. For the time being, things are looking good south bound, with Kito de Pavant (Crash Bandicoot), Gildas Morvan (Cercle Vert) and Alain Gautier (Foncia) heading the fleet…

Last night, Kito overtook his fellow competitors. Double or quit ! Leader of a small group of partisans to a rather southerly route, the current titleholder of La Solitaire has opted not to move too far away from the ridge of high pressure, … and has even come dangerously close to its centreline, the most likely place to run into the calmest of all calms. A fine clique of single-handers are sailing along with Kito : Gildas Morvan first of all, lying 2nd, Alain Gautier, Lionel Péan (Nouvel Observateur), and Marc Thiercelin (Bermudes)… This group has distanced itself from the rest of the fleet and is lying 12 miles south of the direct route.

Further north on the chessbaord of the Irish Sea, the greatest fan of the middle course is to be found. Armel Le Cléac’h (Créaline), lying in 8th place less than 3 miles from the leaders. « There are boats everywhere – above and below me – we’ll see what happens in the end ... », explains Armel vaguely.

Still further north, are the partisans of teh north-east passage, led by Yann Eliès (Groupe Générali Assurances), no more talkative that his neighbours on the weather conditions. The circuit’s blond guy opens the way for those who have decided not to play with fire dicing with the ridge’s centreline. So, there’s Erwan Tabarly (Thales), Laurent Pellecuer (Cliptol Sport), Loïck Peyron (Fujifilm) and also Michel Desjoyeaux (Géant), spotted 1à miles north of the direct route.

The way Dominiqe Vittet sees it - 1993 winner of La Solitaire and knowledgeable router advising Damien Grimont – the Scilly passage is crucial. « To sum up, the southern group is waiting for the wind to shift north-west as forecast so that they might be better positionned for what follows. Those who are further north are counting on wind presure, which they need to stay with them for as long as possible. Obviously, a number of question marks remain. A ridge is a fragile situation and it is very difficult to imagine how it is going to evolve. We’ll know more at Seven Stones and Wolf Rock… ». Laure Faÿ

Echos from the ocean Kito de Pavant (Crash Bandicoot) : « I’m going for it ! » « According to this monring’s positions, things are going well for me. At the moment, Ithe wind is with me but in 5 mintues from now it won’t be here any more. I’m going for it on this last leg. For the time being, we’re sailing along nicely – everything’s fine. Wind until the Scilly Isles. Things are going the way I want them to for the first time on this Solitaire. I’ve got one round left to pull something off and I’m going to give it all I’ve got for that ! » Alain Gautier (Foncia) : « having a sharp eye out » « A bit tired after a complicated night, with unsteady wind, where I had to be vigilant. I’m trying to keep going and keep an eye out on the other boats. Créaline is very dangerous. You need eyes everywhere… if you can keep them open, in the first place ! With the fatigue of three legs, it’s not easy. Last night I slept three times for twenty minutes. » Yann Elies (Groupe Générali Assurances) : « not ending up at the back of the pack ! » « I’m not far from Armel Le Cléac’h. This is not easy at all – being in the lead and staying in the lead. The fleet is spread out and the wind is all over the place. You get the impression that each competitor has his very own wind, with his very own cloud. My saying for the day : « He who pays too much heed to the weather forecast, to the back of the pack he will be cast ! You just have to do the best with what you’ve got to stay out of trouble. »

...Official site La Solitaire Du Figaro